Champions League preliminary action rolls along on on Tuesday with a number of exciting matchups. Aston Villa — one of five teams to win their first three league games — faces their biggest test. They travel to Camp Nou to face Barcelona, one of the world’s most talented teams and a big favorite in the UCL. Can the English side steal some points on the road? Or will the Blaugrana hold fast and solidify their place in the top eight?
Barcelona are strong -390 favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook for this one, with a draw available at +600. If you’re keen on the Aston Villa upset, they’re priced at a massive +850 on the moneyline.
Barcelona vs. Aston Villa Prediction, Pick
Barca’s big test in the UCL came in their last match. After dispatching Feyenoord and Galatasaray by a combined 9-2 margin, the Blaugrana faced the two-time defending champions. It was a back-and-forth affair, with PSG taking the lead twice, only for Barcelona to equalize both times. Paris Saint-Germain’s third and final lead proved vital, as Vitinha’s 81st-minute goal was not negated. That handed Barca their first loss of the UCL campaign, and jeopardized their top-eight status.
Barcelona hasn’t had trouble racking up wins this year. They’re 10-0-1 in La Liga, with their only loss being a tight affair against Real Madrid. Combined with the UCL, they’re 12-0-2, and their only two losses are against inner-circle European powers. A team of Villa’s quality has yet to beat them this season.
But Aston Villa cannot be dismissed in this matchup. After all, they’ve taken care of Club Brugge, Fenerbahçe, and Viking in their first three UCL matches. This isn’t the strongest lineup of competition, but not dropping any points is a positive sign for their tournament outlook. Among the other 3-0-0 clubs are PSG, Real Madrid, and Liverpool; talk about some contenders. Ask Manchester City — who just lost to the Lions two weeks ago — what they think about underestimating Villa.
This matchup hinges on Villa’s back line. They’ve suffered in the early going, conceding in two of their three Champions League matches and in four straight competitive matches overall. Roster turnover, injuries, and ineffectiveness have prevented manager Unai Emery from fielding a consistent defensive squad. Victor Lindelöf has been their only consistent presence, and can hardly be called that given his lack of results this season. They might be asking goalkeeper Zion Suzuki to stand on his head in this one.
It’s hard to imagine a world where Aston Villa’s leaky back line could walk into Camp Nou and shut down one of the world’s best attacks. Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been one of the most dynamic attacking duos in the world, combining for 35 goal involvements in 11 league matches and eight in three UCL matches. Those two alone can pick apart the weaknesses in Aston Villa’s defense; if guys like Anthony Gordon, Fermín López, and Karim Adeyemi can get things going, Villa won’t stand a chance
